Neither snub comes as a surprise. Knight, a Michigan native, has been playing well with 12-16-28 totals in 28 games for the London Knights (OHL). But Knight’s past conflicts with USA Hockey, including his decision not to join the USNTDP and then play for the University of Michigan, have kept the ’10 second-round pick out of the U.S. loop in the past.

Although Gothberg, a sixth-round pick of Boston last June, has posted a 2.39 goals-against average and .892 save percentage in his first year with Fargo (USHL) and has fared in recent international competition, it was a given that last year’s gold-medal-winning goaltender Jack Campbell and 2010 Under-18 gold-medal-winner Andy Iles would be back for another go around with Team USA.

Yeah, that’s tought MCK, but if nothing else, it’ll be a good experience for those guys going into the HE tournament and the NCAA’s. Some guys will have to step up in their absence, but with what BC did this past weekend, they look to be plenty deep.

Awesome tournament last year, looking very forward to this years on US soil. I expect big things this year from Jason Zucker as a physical presence (what a crushing hit on his first shift last year) and from big Nick Bjugstad both physically and offensively as well. It’ll be exciting to see some Hockey East stand outs too.